Support for invalids.



No. 627,663. Patented June 27, I899.

G. L. WALDEN. SUPPORT FOR INVALIDS.

(Applicationjled Oct. 19, 1898.)

(No Model.)

mqacgror' fiergzys,

m: wanna PETERS co, more-urns" wasumorou. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GILBERT L. WALDEN, on NEW MARKET, VIRGINIA.

SUPPORT FOR INVALIDS.

sPEcImcATioii forming part of Letters Patent No. 627,663, dated June 27,1899.

Application filed October 19,1898.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, GILBERT L. WALDEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Market, in the county of Shenandoah and State ofVirginia, have invented a new and useful Support for Invalids andPatients, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in supports for invalids andpatients.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction ofsupports for invalids, patients, and others, and to provide a simple,inexpensive, and efficient device adapted to be readily applied to anyordinary bedstead and capable of supporting a person in a sitting orsemireclining position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter adapted to be readily applied to a person withoutinconveniencing him and capable of engaging a wooden bedstead Withoutmarring the finish or otherwise injuring the same.

r The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of a support forinvalids constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional view showing the same applied to a bed. Fig. 3 isa transverse sectional view of the cushion or rest, illustrating themanner of attaching the strap or other flexible connection with thesame. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the bedengaginghooks. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view illustrating the manner ofconnecting the straps with the hooks. Fig. 6 is a detail perspectiveview of the rectangular frame of the cushion or rest.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding partsin all thefigures of the drawlugs.

l designates a rectangular cushion or rest designed to be arrangedwithin a bed at the back of a patient or invalid to support the same ina sitting or semireclining position and connected with the foot of thebed by means of straps 2 or other flexible connections and hooks 3forengaging the foot of the bed 4. The straps or other flexible connec-Serial No. 694,009. (No modeh) tions extend from opposite sides of thecushion or rest, at the center thereof, and preferably consist of acontinuous strap extended across the back or rear face of the cushion orsupport and secured to the same. That portion of the strap which extendsacross the rear face of the cushion or rest is preferably arrangedwithin a casing 5 of rubber or other suitable material.

The cushion or rest, which may be of any desired construction,preferably consists of a rubber covering orcasing 6, arranged on arectangular frame 7 and provided with a suitable filling S of a materialwhich will render the cushion or rest soft and elastic, so that the saidcushion or rest will yield readily to the back of a patient.

The rectangular frame is constructed of resilient metal, the sides 9being curved and presenting concave front faces, and the top and bottompieces 10 of the frame possess greater elasticity than the side piecesand permit the cushion or rest to bow or curve transversely whensubjected to the strain incident to its use. By this construction thecushion, which is curved from top to bottom, is rendered yielding andflexible and is adapted to provide a comfortable support for a patientor invalid.

The outer ends of the side straps are adjustably connected by suitablebuckles 11 with hooks 3, which are preferably constructed of flat metal,as shown, and which are adapted to receive the upper rods or bars of thefoot of an iron bedstead within them. In order to enable the hooks toengage a wooden bedstead without scratching or otherwise marring thefinish, the bills of the hooks are provided with arms 12, arranged atright angles to the shanks and having pads 13 secured to theirinnerfaces. The pads l3,which are preferably circular, are adapted to fitagainst the outer face of the footboard of a bed, and they enable thehooks to be interlocked with the same without damaging the wood.

The inner ends of the shanks of the hooks are reduced and provided witheyes 14 to re? ceive loops 15 of the buckles 11, whereby the latter arehinged to the hooks. The said buckles may be of anypreferredconstruction, and they permit the side straps or connections to beadjusted to accommodate the device to the size of the bed and theposition of the patient or other person using it.

The invention has the following advan-- tages: The device, which issimple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, is adapted to bereadily applied to any ordinary bedstead and does not necessitate anyalteration in the construction thereof or scratch or otherwise mar thefinish of the same. It is adapted to be readily placed behind the backof a person without causing him any inconvenience or annoyance and iscapable of supporting him in a sitting or semireclining position, and itmay also be used with great advantage in obstetrics. The cushion or restpossesses great elasticity and is adapted to bow or curve transverselyand longitudinally to conform to the configuration of a patient, and asthe covering or casing of the cushion or rest presents smooth unbrokenfaces it may be readily cleaned and maintained in proper position foruse. It is light and portable and may be readily carried by a physician.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor detail of construction may beresorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of theadvantages of this invention.

What is claimed is- 1. A device of the class described comprising acushion or rest designed to be placed in a bed to support a person, ahook adapted to engage the foot of an iron bedstead and provided at itsbill with an outwardly-extending transverse arm, a pad mounted on thearm for engaging a wooden bedstead, and a connection between the hookand the cushion, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described compris ing a cushion or rest, a pairof hooks adapted to engage the foot of an iron bedstead and provided attheir bills with outwardly-extending arms and having eyes at theirshanks, buckles having loops linked into the eyes, side straps extendingfrom the cushion or rest to the buckles, and pads mounted on the outwardly-extending arms and adapted to engage a wooden bedstead,substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described provided with a cushion comprising asubstantially rectangular casing or covering, asuitable filling arrangedtherein, and the rectangular frame arranged within the casing orcovering at the edges thereof and composed of the curved side bars 9 andthe resilient transverse bars 10 arranged parallel with each other andconnecting the ends of the curved side bars, said rcsilient bars 10being adapted to permit the cushion to bow or yield transversely,substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GILBERT L. WALDEN.

Witnesses:

JOHN II. SIGGERS, C. W. BENNICK.

